The final numbers for this year's Holiday Checkstop program are in. Despite a greater number of check-stops and vehicles checked this year by the RCMP; impaired driving charges are down, but fatalities are up.
Overall, 11,714 vehicles were checked throughout 262 checkstops. 90 people were charged with impaired driving (87 by alcohol, 3 by a drug) compared to 117 last year. As well, 30 alcohol-related tiered suspensions and 2 drug-related tiered suspensions were given out. There were also 15 people charged with refusing a breath demand, and 49 people charged with improper storage of alcohol or cannabis in a vehicle.
Unfortunately, 5 people lost their lives in traffic-related collisions this year during the program, compared to 1 fatality last year.
